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3 of the best reality-warping horror games and where to get them
What makes a horror game truly frightening? Jumpscares or chase scenes can be unsettling, but for me, the scariest horror games are those that encourage a creeping sense of dread and make you question the world you’re interacting with.

If you’ve been hunting for some new skin-crawling titles to add to your library, I’ve got you covered with this list. One of the games is a cult-classic that I believe every horror enthusiast should have in their collection, while the other two are underrated gems that deserve more of a spotlight.

The Escapist recaps
- Flesh, Blood, & Concrete is an atmospheric, unsettling trawl through a seemingly occupied apartment building, filled with trinkets and chunks of meat.
- Ib is a cult-classic horror that starts in an art gallery and ends up in an alternate world, packed with fiendish monsters and enemies.
- Soul Void is a mysterious horror-adventure made in a Game Boy-esque style, with heavy themes of death, inner grief, and a reluctance to move on.
- All three games are must-plays for fans of horror games that rely on slow-burning fear, unsettling imagery, and rich narratives to frighten their players.
Flesh, Blood, & Concrete

This game is dark and atmospheric. Image credit: waxwing0

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete is just as weird as it sounds – and I’m so glad I found this game while mindlessly scrolling through the horror tab on Itch.io, as it’s utterly engrossing.

Made by waxwing0, this RPGMaker experience is short but impactful. It’s a story-driven horror that begins with a car accident, and the mechanics are best summarized as exploration with a small sprinkle of puzzles on top.

After the main character falls asleep at the wheel and drives her car through the courtyard of a block of apartments, she’s invited inside the apartment block by a mysterious but friendly girl who wants her to take shelter from the vicious snowstorm outside. The story unravels from there, getting increasingly surreal with every new room uncovered.

While there are some gross-out moments – particularly for folk who are upset by mold or rot – it’s not a jumpscare-heavy game. The world design is spectacularly eerie, and the music adds to the ambience perfectly, but the real horror is baked into the story instead of the visuals.

Flesh, Blood, & Concrete somehow manages to be creepy, beautiful, and melancholic all at the same time. It ended up bringing a tear to my eye, and I wish I could’ve spent longer learning more about the characters.

You can play this horror game for free on Itch.io – before downloading, it’s worth noting that it features heavy themes along with a fair amount of gore.

Ib

While Ib does have jumpscares, it relies on its tense atmosphere for frights. Image credit: Playism

Calling Ib an underground horror game at this point is a bit of a stretch – it’s a cult-classic, after all, with a dedicated community – but I’ll take any excuse to write about this incredible title. It came out in 2012, then got a remake in 2022.

As a long-time RPGMaker game fan, I can say with confidence that this is one of the best examples of an RPGMaker horror game. It’s gorgeous yet creepy, with an intriguing storyline and plenty of unsettling enemies to dodge as you explore.

Ib follows the story of a young girl by the same name as she visits an art gallery with her parents. Before the family can settle into their day trip, something changes drastically within the gallery, and Ib ends up alone, forced to explore a dark, ever-changing world within the paintings that line the walls of the gallery.

Exploration is a key part of Ib, with a plethora of dungeons and winding pathways to navigate. The world gets increasingly more surreal and twisted, with plenty of elaborate puzzles to unravel as the story unfolds.

Something that I love about this game is that there are multiple endings to uncover. It’s rewarding to play through multiple times and see how your choices affect the story, which is often the case for story-led horror.

You can check out the 2022 version of Ib on Steam and the Nintendo Store. The official Nintendo store page for the game notes that Ib is supported on Nintendo Switch 2.

Soul Void (Redux)

Soul Void’s artwork is truly impressive. Image credit: Kadabura

The first thing that I noticed about Soul Void is how utterly impressive its artwork is. Thankfully, it’s also got a stellar story and gameplay loop to match its quality aesthetic.

Created by Kadabura on Itch.io, Soul Void is a Game Boy-esque horror adventure that’ll take you through a variety of bewildering, hellish landscapes, packed with lost souls who need your help to move on to the next life. You wake up in another world, seemingly by mistake, and you’ll need to find your way home.

The story is left deliberately mysterious in places – to me, the main location in the game seemed like a representation of purgatory, but others may interpret it differently – yet it still manages to feel incredibly rich.

I dipped into this game thinking I’d check it out for 20 minutes, then move on to the next title on my list, but ended up becoming utterly engrossed for the next couple of hours.

With themes of loss, inner turmoil, and life beyond death, this is a horror adventure that’ll make you think – but it’ll also make you squirm with gnarly creature designs and gory landscapes, too. It is worth noting that Soul Void touches on some heavy themes.

You can check out Soul Void on Itch.io – while it is available to play in-browser for free, I’d strongly encourage you to support the creator with a paid download, as this is a truly mesmerizing game.

Ask The Escapist

Did Ib get a remake?

Yes, the version of Ib on Steam is the 2022 version of the 2012 release. It features updated graphics and quality-of-life improvements.

Do these games feature jumpscares?

There aren’t any notable jumpscares that I found in Flesh, Blood, & Concrete or Soul Void. Ib has a few smaller scares, but I wouldn’t describe it as a jumpscare-forward game.

Can any of these games be played in-browser?

Both Soul Void and Flesh, Blood, & Concrete can be played in-browser. I’d highly encourage you to download the games and support the developers via their Itch.io pages, though – these games are incredible pieces of work.

References
The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
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31/07/2025
In Lowball versions with 7 Card hands is the “best” (least best in Lowball) or “worst” (best in Lowball) Used?

In Razz Lowball, or A-5 Low 7 Card Stud, which combination of one’s cards is used?

If one has 2-3-4-5-7-7-7, are you required to use 7-7-7-4-5 or can you choose 2-3-4-5-7?

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30/07/2025
magic the gathering – How Threefold Thunderhulk interact with Ability Boosting effects?

Absolutely it would.

611.3c Continuous effects that modify characteristics of permanents do so simultaneously with the permanent entering the battlefield. They don’t wait until the permanent is on the battlefield and then change it. Because such effects apply as the permanent enters the battlefield, they are applied before determining whether the permanent will cause an ability to trigger when it enters the battlefield.

Example: A permanent with the static ability “All white creatures get +1/+1” is on the battlefield. A creature spell that would normally create a 1/1 white creature instead creates a 2/2 white creature. The creature doesn’t enter the battlefield as 1/1 and then change to 2/2.

Threefold Thunderhulk will enter with three +1/+1 counters on it, and also get the +1/+1 from Anthem of Champions, meaning that it enters as a 4/4 creature, and so when its enters trigger resolves you will get 4 token creatures.

Even if this weren’t the case (e.g. if the anthem effect were applied as some kind of state-based action) then it would be fine – Thunderhulk is already on the battlefield once the trigger resolves, so it will definitely have 4 power at that point. However, it does mean that Thunderhulk will trigger, for example, Garruk’s Uprising, which says

Whenever a creature you control with power 4 or greater enters, draw a card.

because its power is equal to 4 as it enters which wouldn’t be the case if rule 611.3c worked differently.

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30/07/2025
Grounded 2 breaks its predecessor’s Steam peak record after mere hours

Grounded is an excellent survival game that is absolutely deserving of a sequel – it’s just that I, and many others, didn’t expect it to get one so soon. Bogged down already this year with Avowed and The Outer Worlds 2, I was shocked when Obsidian announced Grounded 2 a couple of months back, and was even more surprised to see a July 29 early access launch date too. Well, today’s the day, and despite Grounded 2’s inclusion in Game Pass, it’s performing very well on Steam – so well, in fact, that it’s already blasted past its predecessor’s all-time player peak on Valve’s platform.

Given that the original Grounded – a worthy inclusion on our list of the best survival games – only dropped in 2022 and was still being regularly updated and played, Grounded 2 is still a rather unexpected sequel. It follows the same four protagonists (albeit a couple of years on from the events of the first game) and still revolves around a very familiar gameplay loop of exploring, base building, bug battling, and ultimately uncovering the secrets of your shrinking.

However, Grounded 2 does make some innovations – could they have been big upgrades to the original game? Perhaps. But collectively, these changes will make for a sequel that feels noticeably different.

The new world of Brookhollow Park is bigger than the previous game’s and contains more biome variety. Dashing has been added as a new movement and combat mechanic, both for you and your insectile foes. Bugs can now be captured and turned into rideable mounts. The UI has been refreshed. It’s all aiming to bring the beloved gameplay of the original up to new heights, and even though it’s launching today in an early access state, it’s proving very popular.

On Steam, Grounded 2’s debut has resulted in a peak concurrent player count of just under 50,000. This is impressive, given it’s immediately available at no extra cost for millions of Game Pass subscribers. That peak player count is also well above the original Grounded’s all-time record, which sits at around 32,000.

While the player counts look healthy, it’s worth noting that on Steam its early user reviews sit on a 64% positive ‘mixed’ score. Most negative reviews are calling out its PC performance, but given it’s hours old and is in an early access state, Obsidian will likely get things running a lot smoother for everyone in no time at all. I’d be surprised if, over time, that review score didn’t improve by a significant margin.

If you want in, Grounded 2 is available right now on Steam and Windows Store for $29.99 / £24.99 or as part of your Xbox or PC Game Pass subscription.

If Grounded 2 is tempting you into picking up a sub, check out what else you’ll be able to play with our list of the best Game Pass games. If you are going to this new world in miniature, we’ve got loads of guides to help you out, such as this one on the Grounded 2 briefcase combinations.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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30/07/2025
Everything you need to know
It’s that time of year when Europe’s premier video game convention is back. Gamescom 2025 is one of the most influential events in the gaming industry. With the promises of cinematic trailers, blockbuster reveals, and indie surprises. The excitement has already begun for the convention that kicks off in Cologne, Germany, on August 20, 2025.

If you need to stay on top of every Gamescom presentation that’s going on, this guide is for you. Where to watch, viewing options, and what to expect will be included to ensure you do not miss a thing. Strap yourself in for a full rundown of Gamescom 2025’s events.

The Escapist recaps
- Gamescom 2025 will run between August 20 – August 24, with some events around the show starting as early as August 1.
- The line-up includes THQ Nordic Digital Showcase, Future Games Show, and Gamescom Opening Night Live, with the addition of further partner streams that could still be announced.
- Every featured showcase will be streamed for free on Twitch and YouTube.
- During Gamescom, there are bound to be many previews, interviews, and news, so it’s worth being aware of the show, even after it’s finished.
- Livestreams and grassroots activations could occur closer to the show, so keep tabs on the social media accounts of big publishers.
How to Watch Every Gamescom 2025 Presentation

Below is an essential guide to every major Gamescom presentation this year, with everything you need to know so you do not miss a thing.

August 1 – THQ Nordic Digital Showcase 2025

12 pm PT / 3 pm ET / 8 pm BST
Streaming on YouTube and Twitch

What to expect from the THQ Nordic Digital Showcase

THQ Nordic’s introduction to Gamescom 2025 is generally smaller, but the publisher always has the chance to surprise. THQ is well-known for its breadth of franchises under its roof, which extend pretty far these days. While not home to the biggest franchises in gaming, there is a host of recognisable franchises that could turn up here.

The trailer for the event gives some indication as to what will be shown, which you can watch to get some hints. It seems very likely Gothic will be there, alongside games like Wreckfest 2.

This is looking to be a strong kick-off to Gamescom, and going by the comments on the stream, players are very hopeful for Darksiders 4 to show up. Will it? We will have to wait and see.

August 19 – Gamescom Opening Night Live

Geoff Keighley, host for Opening Night Live 2025. Image credit: Gamescom

11 am PT / 2 pm ET / 7 pm BST
Streaming on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, X, and Facebook

What to Expect from Opening Night Live

This is considered to be the crown jewel of Gamescom 2025; Opening Night Live will be hosted by The Game Awards’ own Geoff Keighley. This is where we will get announcements from big-budget AAA studios that will make the biggest waves. If you intend to watch one show, make it this one.

As always, speculation is already running wild with the Fable reboot, Call of Duty: Black Ops 7, and Borderlands 4. We know that Blizzard will likely show off its next WoW expansion, Midnight here, so any players should be tuned in. Expect to hear news from Ubisoft, Capcom, Bandai Namco, and more here, as all the big publishers will be out.

This has been, and will probably continue to be, the “blockbuster moment” of Gamescom. You’re going to want to watch it. To find out what happens, be sure to check it out.

August 20 – Future Games Show @ Gamescom

The Future Games Show returns this year at Gamescom. Image credit: GamesRadar / Future PLC

11 am PT / 2 pm ET / 7 pm BST
Streaming on YouTube, Twitch, Instagram, X, and Facebook

What to Expect from the Future Games Show

Publishing giant Future will be running back their mid-sided show over in Germany, too. Many creative AAA, AA, and indie games will be shown, bringing some games that might not get the spotlight into the foreground.

Generally, this show highlights interesting projects and AA games, so if you’re looking for something away from the big stuff, this is a great place to find it. Last year, games like Once Human, a Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine 2 update, Goat Simulator 3, and more were shown off. So, it really can be a great place to scout interesting projects.

If you are looking for something new to delve into or you simply crave some unique design, this is the Gamescom showcase for you.

What is Gamescom?

Self-described as the “heart of gaming”, Gamescom was launched in 2009, succeeding the Games Convention, which was previously held in Leipzig, Germany. It has since become the largest gaming convention in the world, with over 335,000 visitors (and more than 32,000 trades) seeing over 1,400 exhibitions encompassing more than 60 countries as of last year. In other words, it’s the games convention, so we’re expecting big things from the presentations broadcast from the show floor this year.

Ask The Escapist

When is Gamescom?

Gamescom 2025 will start officially on August 20 until August 24, while digital events like THQ Nordic will occur earlier in the month.

What companies are going to be at Gamescom?

Participants that are confirmed include Sony, HoYoverse, Sega, CD Projekt, Capcom, Nintendo, Bandai Namco, Ubisoft, Blizzard, Microsoft/Xbox, THQ Nordic, and plenty more. Cologne’s halls will be filled with over 1,400 exhibitors, who will be represented through some form of announcement or stream.

References
1. https://www.gamescom.global/en/info/exhibitors/exhibit/facts-figures
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30/07/2025
Ludology: Ludology 331Pixelate Those Pieces
Welcome!

Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the hows and whys of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, as well as discuss game history, game design and game players.

We post a new Ludology episode every other week. In these episodes, hosts Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim deep-dive into a single topic within game design, often with a well-regarded guest from the game industry. We generally focus on tabletop game design (mainly board games and RPGs), but we often pull in experts from all forms of games, from video games to escape rooms to slot machines.

On weeks where there is no flagship Ludology episode, we will alternate between two smaller mini-sodes. Erica and Sen are happy to announce that Sarah Shipp of Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell of TTRPGKids will be joining us for the next year, providing additional content between our longer episodes.

Sarah’s segment, Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, is a monthly feature that dives deeper into the other aspects of games beyond the dice and cards we’re all familiar with.

Stephanie’s segment, TTRPGKids, explores how parents and teachers can use role playing games with children in the home and in the classroom.

We hope you enjoy the additional content!

Our History

We aim for most Ludology episodes to be timeless, so you are welcome to explore our entire catalog. Most of it should age quite well. The podcast was started in 2011 by Geoff Engelstein and Ryan Sturm, with Mike Fitzgerald taking over for Ryan in 2015. Gil and Scott joined the show in 2017 when Mike stepped aside, and Emma joined in 2019 when Geoff ended his tenure as host. Emma left in 2021, and Erica and Sen joined us. Since then, Scott stepped down in 2022 and Gil will be hanging up his mic in 2023, leaving Erica and Sen to carry on this amazing legacy.

Erica and Sen are working to bring new voices to Ludology and have some great things to announce as gaming expands to include even more people!

Contact Us

Have your own thoughts about our topics? We encourage you to visit us at our guild on Boardgamegeek to get involved in a continuing discussion.

You can also email us at hello@ludology.net.

Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.

If you have questions that you’d like answered on Ludology, let us know by filling out this Google Form; you can also leave an audio question that we can use on the show, if you wish!

Burning Questions for Ludology

Support the Show

Ludology is made possible through the support and donations of listeners like you.

We currently have 3 “First Listen” series that will go out to Patrons well in advance of the audio being released to the wider audience.
- The Memories that Made Us (monthly) – memories about gaming experiences that helped shape the people that bring modern games to life
- Tales from the Designer Toolbox (monthly) – tips and tricks from industry pros learned from both success and failure
- Ludology Live – recordings from conventions around the world
Patrons will also get extra consideration for any giveaways that we might have!

Become a Ludology Patron

You can also make a one-time or monthly donation here. The link will take you to Erica’s account. People who donate in this way will not have access to the Patreon page – sorry!
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29/07/2025
Will it Game? Episode 98 with Parker Simpson

This week, we’re taking a trip to space to see what we can find with our guest judge Parker Simpson. This episode is a little off the rails. One of our hosts didn’t understand the theme of “weird space”.

Parker is the creator and illustrator of Trash Dash and runs Shiny Pigeon Games. He’s currently got the game Starfront Scouting Academy, a new print and play game that is funding through Kickstarter. Check out the campaign and learn more about this excellent space game today.

Like the content that is filing your ears? Consider giving to our Patreon and connect with One Board Family even more. https://www.patreon.com/oneboardfamily

The track “Balkana” was created by 4bstr4ck3r. http://freemusicarchive.org/music/4bstr4ck3r/

Podcast: Play in new window | Download

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29/07/2025
Dataminer claims a new Assassin’s Creed game could be revealed soon

Assassin’s Creed Shadows has already secured Ubisoft a much needed win, with the sprawling open-world game being one of this year’s best sellers. However, it seems a reveal (or maybe even a surprise drop) of a new Assassin’s Creed game is about to happen. A notable dataminer has uncovered what they believe to be evidence of an all-new AC experience, and it’s not the recently dated Claws of Awaji DLC for Shadows. The dataminer whittles the possibilities down to two potential suspects – the heavily rumored remake of my personal favorite in the series, Assassin’s Creed Black Flag, or the upcoming multiplayer spinoff codenamed Assassin’s Creed Invictus.

That’s right, as well as reveling in this week’s huge AC Shadows update (which adds New Game Plus and an increased level cap) there may be another cause for excitement too. The beloved Assassin’s Creed Black Flag is, in my personal opinion, one of the best open-world games ever for the new direction it took the series in. Objectively, there are maybe a couple of AC games that are better, all things considered, but Black Flag is the one I look back on the most fondly. After months of rumors and leaks, it seems that a reveal of its rumored remaster could be right around the corner.

‘Playstation Game Size’ has made a name for themselves over the years for unearthing new products and game updates from the backend of the Playstation Network, and today they’re teasing something new in the world of Assassin’s Creed. In a post on X, they claim to have found a new product code tied to the series.

The dataminer assures that it’s nothing to do with Shadows’ imminent update or its Claws of Awaji DLC, and rules more distant projects like Assassin’s Creed Hexe and Jade, so the Black Flag remaster seems to be a leading candidate. There’s been a few teases and breadcrumbs that suggest this remaster is coming relatively soon, despite no official announcement from Ubisoft.

However, replying to Assassin’s Creed fans in their comments, Playstation Game Size speculates that this new product could also potentially be AC Invictus – a multiplayer project that was officially announced by Ubisoft many moons ago, but has never received a full reveal. Leakers claim that it will be an arcade-style, round-based game spanning a variety of game modes, and notable Ubisoft insider Tom Henderson has also claimed that Invictus could release this year.

As always with datamines and leaks, take all of the above with a grain of salt. Playstation Game Size has a decent track record, and I suspect they wouldn’t jump to the Assassin’s Creed conclusion without some solid evidence pointing towards it, but they may still be wide of the mark. If they’re correct, though, there could be good times ahead – whether it’s Invictus, the Black Flag remaster, or perhaps something completely new and unexpected, hopefully a reveal is not too far away.

To check out some new projects that are 100% confirmed to be on the way, head to our upcoming PC games list. If you think it’s time to give your rig a bit of a boost, take a look at our best graphics card guide.

You can follow us on Google News for daily PC games news, reviews, and guides. We’ve also got a vibrant community Discord server, where you can chat about this story with members of the team and fellow readers.

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29/07/2025
Best Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 game references in the movie trailer
Image credit: Universal Pictures

Em Stonham

and

Patrick Dane

|

Published: Jul 28, 2025 01:15 pm
Before I played it for the first time, I thought Five Nights at Freddy’s would be a quick, forgettable jumpscare simulator. Thankfully, I was woefully incorrect. Despite being more than a little goofy in places, the FNAF series has exploded into a rich, lore-packed franchise, now with its second movie on the way.

While the first film was fun, the second is gearing up to be an absolute treat for fans of the video game franchise. To help get you ready for the December 5, 2025 launch, here’s a look at the best FNAF 2 game references in the movie trailer.

The Escapist recaps
- Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is due to come out in theaters on December 5, 2025.
- While the story will still likely deviate from the game lore, it appears to be much closer in narrative to the second video game in the franchise.
- There are lots of Easter eggs to pick up on in the trailer, including nods to mini-games and key mechanics from FNAF 2.
- Iconic characters will be making an appearance, like Withered Chica and the Puppet.
The main location looks well-crafted and eerie

One of the biggest visual references in the trailer. Image credit: Universal Pictures

The creepy office set-up in the trailer is a clear nod to the main location in FNAF 2.

It’s an incredible take on the security office that players work from in the game, complete with the messy desk and the hallway that seems to go on for much longer than it feasibly should. It’s not identical to the game office, but it’s incredibly close.

The camera looming down the hallway and looking into the office flips the standard perspective that fans are used to, almost letting us view the scene as if we’re one of the animatronics terrorizing a player in the security office. It’s quite strange, but it’s intriguing.

This hallway still sends a shiver down my spine. Image credit: Scott Cawthon

Unlike the first movie’s location, this film takes place in the original Freddy Fazbear’s Pizzeria. The FNAF 2 trailer only gives us snippets of the Pizzeria itself, but the glimpses that we do get are incredible.

The outside features faded, wooden copies of the Toy animatronics with wide, toothy grins, and the inside is lit up with flickering fairylights, illuminating the thick layers of dust and grime coating the painted floors.

It’s gross – and it’s just how I’d imagined it.

My favorite reference out of the lot is the Freddy mask in the security office. The acknowledgement of how silly the mechanic seems, combined with the brief but skin-crawling jumpscare that follows, is perfection.

There are plenty of familiar faces making an appearance

It was a brief look, but this is definitely Withered Chica. Image credit: Universal Pictures

Plenty of iconic characters got a look in during the FNAF 2 trailer, with one of my personal favorites, Withered Chica, getting a small jumpscare in – as she should.

I didn’t spot any of the other Withered animatronics in the trailer, but if Chica is present, the others will likely make an appearance as well.

Out of the variety of animatronic groups and subcategories shown across the franchise, I find this particular type to have the most memorable designs. They’re eerie and nightmarish, and also seem to be some of the most powerful foes in the games.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Withered, they’re thought to be the original versions of the animatronics in a state of disrepair. They appear as threats alongside the Toy animatronics in FNAF 2 and have a much gnarlier appearance than their newer counterparts.

Alongside Withered Chica, the Puppet popped up in several scenes throughout the trailer, along with the Balloon Boy and Mangle. I believe the Puppet will play a key role due to her seemingly being fixated on Vanessa in the trailer, silently stalking her as she moves.

The Faz Talker seems to be tied to the mini-games

The Faz Talker should play a key part. Image credit: Universal Pictures

The mini-games in FNAF 2 seem to get a nod in the trailer, via the eerie Faz Talker toy that Abby has in her room.

The voice of the Faz Talker has some fans convinced that it’s the same voice heard during the second game’s mini-games. The monotone, robotic voice does sound recognizable – I’m personally convinced – and it reads out a similar message to those heard in the mini-games.

The Faz Talker will likely be a core part of the movie’s overall narrative, as it appears to have a strong hold over Abby. There are two separate instances where she’s shown returning to the animatronics in the trailer, at the insistence of the voices in the Faz Talker telling her that she needs to help them.

The actual purpose of this device isn’t immediately made clear. It appears to be a way for the animatronics to directly contact Abby, so it’ll be fascinating to see how this plays a part in the overall story.

Overall, Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 is looking like an immense film for fans of the FNAF world. While it’s still likely to deviate from the core story told in the games, this movie appears to be much more aware of the game lore and mechanics, so it should be packed to the brim with interesting easter eggs and story snippets.

Ask The Escapist

When does Five Nights at Freddy’s 2 come out?

The FNAF 2 movie is due to come out in theaters on December 5, 2025, meaning fans still have a while to wait until release day.

Is the FNAF 2 movie lore the same as in the games?

While there are some striking differences between the second movie and the second game, this entry into the franchise does appear to be much closer in story to its video game counterpart. The timeline is notably different, though.

Where can you watch Five Nights at Freddy’s?

The first FNAF movie is currently available to watch on Apple TV and Amazon Prime Video.

Should you play FNAF 2 before watching the film?

While I’d highly encourage you to check out the second entry in the FNAF game series, I wouldn’t currently say that it’ll be crucial to play it before seeing the movie. It’s a stellar game, though, and worth picking up.

The Escapist is supported by our audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn a small affiliate commission. Learn more about our Affiliate Policy
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29/07/2025
Pros and Cons Ep 12
Welcome!

Welcome to Ludology, an analytical discussion of the hows and whys of the world of board games. Rather than news and reviews, Ludology explores a variety of topics about games from a wider lens, as well as discuss game history, game design and game players.

We post a new Ludology episode every other week. In these episodes, hosts Erica Bouyouris and Sen-Foong Lim deep-dive into a single topic within game design, often with a well-regarded guest from the game industry. We generally focus on tabletop game design (mainly board games and RPGs), but we often pull in experts from all forms of games, from video games to escape rooms to slot machines.

On weeks where there is no flagship Ludology episode, we will alternate between two smaller mini-sodes. Erica and Sen are happy to announce that Sarah Shipp of Shippboard Games and Stephanie Campbell of TTRPGKids will be joining us for the next year, providing additional content between our longer episodes.

Sarah’s segment, Thinking Beyond Mechanisms, is a monthly feature that dives deeper into the other aspects of games beyond the dice and cards we’re all familiar with.

Stephanie’s segment, TTRPGKids, explores how parents and teachers can use role playing games with children in the home and in the classroom.

We hope you enjoy the additional content!

Our History

We aim for most Ludology episodes to be timeless, so you are welcome to explore our entire catalog. Most of it should age quite well. The podcast was started in 2011 by Geoff Engelstein and Ryan Sturm, with Mike Fitzgerald taking over for Ryan in 2015. Gil and Scott joined the show in 2017 when Mike stepped aside, and Emma joined in 2019 when Geoff ended his tenure as host. Emma left in 2021, and Erica and Sen joined us. Since then, Scott stepped down in 2022 and Gil will be hanging up his mic in 2023, leaving Erica and Sen to carry on this amazing legacy.

Erica and Sen are working to bring new voices to Ludology and have some great things to announce as gaming expands to include even more people!

Contact Us

Have your own thoughts about our topics? We encourage you to visit us at our guild on Boardgamegeek to get involved in a continuing discussion.

You can also email us at hello@ludology.net.

Ludology is part of The Dice Tower Network, the premier board game media network.

If you have questions that you’d like answered on Ludology, let us know by filling out this Google Form; you can also leave an audio question that we can use on the show, if you wish!

Burning Questions for Ludology

Support the Show

Ludology is made possible through the support and donations of listeners like you.

We currently have 3 “First Listen” series that will go out to Patrons well in advance of the audio being released to the wider audience.
- The Memories that Made Us (monthly) – memories about gaming experiences that helped shape the people that bring modern games to life
- Tales from the Designer Toolbox (monthly) – tips and tricks from industry pros learned from both success and failure
- Ludology Live – recordings from conventions around the world
Patrons will also get extra consideration for any giveaways that we might have!

Become a Ludology Patron

You can also make a one-time or monthly donation here. The link will take you to Erica’s account. People who donate in this way will not have access to the Patreon page – sorry!
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29/07/2025